Backyard Birdies

Backyard Birdies
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265.

Vic, Shannon & I were sitting outside enjoying the wonderful breeze the other evening and watching the sprinkler water the back grass when some of our new backyard birdies came by to enjoy the cool shower. They sat on the fence and every time the sprinkler came back their way each of them would lift up a wing to get the full effect of the water. It was really cute. These are the kinds of things I really enjoy about living in the North. In Florida it was always way too hot to sit outside between May and October. Sometimes Shannon & I sit on the back porch and listen to the Tigers game on the radio and other times we just sit and enjoy the birdies!

Had I Only Known...

Do you realize it's just three short days days until "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is released?? I'm giddy. I've already pre-ordered the book thru Amazon because I figured there would be a mad rush to purchase it Friday night at midnight and all day Saturday. I ordered the last book thru Amazon and it was delivered on the release date, so I figured I'd get this one the same way. Little did I know that I would be working in the stock room of WalMart when the book is released to the general public! Just imagine...There I am working my little fingers to the bone back in the receiving dock when one of the dozen or so boxes containing Harry Potter books slips from my tired hands and falls to the floor. And the box opens (I conveniently carry a box cutter) and one of the books tumbles out (gasp!). Well geez, I'd almost be forced to pick it up (reverently, of course) and make sure there was no damage to either the book cover of any of the 700+ pages inside. I am a good employee. I don't think WalMart pays me enough. I feel a sickness coming on ~ I may not be able to make it into work Saturday.

Thinking About Work

One nice thing about working a 2nd or 3rd shift at work is that I usually don't have to rely on an alarm clock. I just wake up whenever (usually when Shannon needs to go outside) and loll about the bed messing up the covers for 10 minutes or so. One bad thing about working a 2nd or 3rd shift is that I spend the time between waking up and going to work thinking about all the things I could get done around the house if only I didn't have to go to stupid work! Today I pulled the weeds and little grass pieces that had popped up in the cracks in the driveway. I really didn't mind because it was a beautiful morning and I'm just happy to have any kind of driveway, cracks with grassy pieces or not. Then about 2 hours before I had to leave for work it started to rain. Not quite enough time to work on the dozen or so boxes crammed into my craft room, but plenty of time to sit think about how I wish I had more time to work on that darn craft room. So, instead of working on the craft room I sat under the protective awning of the back porch (with Shannon) and worked on my latest craft item ~ a French themed cross-stitch. This is the first time in a long time I've actually been able to sit outside and stitch. In Florida it was either Africa-hot or Amazon-mosquitoey. It was actually very pleasant sitting with Shannon, listening to the rain ping off of our awning. Then the sky turned black and we had the thunderstorm from hell. I had to scurry into the house to close windows and shut down the computer. Then I had to drive thru all that muck to work! If only I didn't have to go to work...

Russell & Dennis

I ended up getting the new lawnmower because it just wasn't worthe the incredible hassle of having to rake up all the grass I would've cut on our 40 acres. Okay, maybe not 40 acres, but still a heck of a lot of grass. When I got to my neighborhood Home Depot I had to wait around for what seemed like an eternity until someone in the Lawn & Garden department could help me get the lawnmower box down. Turned out it was a skinny Lawn & Garden lady, but boy did she have some muscles cuz she just grabbed a hold of that box and plopped it right on my cart. The person who helped me load it into the Jeep was also a woman. She just heeved it right in. And I work in the receiving area of WalMart moving boxes and pallet jacks all over the store. How empowering for the female race, dontcha think? Headline News just said one of the hardest hit spots in the recent London bombings was the Russell Square Underground station. That was mine and Vic's tube stop when we were in London just a few months ago! We went all over London and each trip started and ended at the Russell Square station just a block from our hotel. What if these crazy dumb shits had decided to attack in March instead of July? I get a chill just thinking about it. It looks like Hurricane Dennis is headed straight for the P'Cola area. Again! I just read that the projected landfall point is just a few miles west of P'Cola...the exact same spot as Ivan. The few friends I talked to down there seem pretty resigned to the fact that it's coming and there's nothing they can do. I sure the hell did something. There's no way I could live through another hurricane aftermath. Did I forget to mention that I made our first house payment the other day? I feel much poorer already!

Bisque

Our refrigerator sucks butt, so Vic & I went out fridge shopping today and selected a very nice Frigidaire model. The color we selected is bisque. It's sort of a sand type color, I guess. The friendly Lowe's guy will deliver it tomorrow. Yea!! Our present refrigerator leaks water like a sieve. There's a small lake in our crisper. We also need a new lawnmower, but that may have to wait a while. It still cuts really well, but the grass is somehow different here than in FL, so we need a bag. Our model apparently doesn't have a bag to be bought anywhere, so we are a bit vexed. I'm going to cut the grass tomorrow, so I'm sure what will happen is I'll get about a quarter of the way done, throw a hissy and go buy a new one. With a bag. I hear there are a couple of hurricanes possibly headed toward the P'Cola area. I have an extra bedroom...

Happy Holiday!

Happy July 4th (even though technically it's now July 5th). I spent the day at work. It seems like I have to work every 4th of July. I did get to see some fireworks this year, however, and the store closed early so I got home at a decent hour and went next door to my neighbor's for a few holiday treats and his fireworks. My job at WalMart is really a good workout. I'm on my feet for eight hours walking, lifting and pulling stuff. I've already lost 3 lbs. in just three days! I'm also drinking a ton of water every day and not near as much pop as I used to. Now if I could only find the box that we packed the damn stereo remote control in!

WalMart Name Tag

WalMart Name Tag
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265.

Well, I completed my second full day of work at the retail giant and I've yet to do any actual work. It's been all orientation and training stuff. I know how to clean up chemical spills and what a "code adam" is along with other important life-changing info like diversity is what makes us all unique and, darn it, employee theft just ends up hurting everyone. I think I'll be unloading (or receiving) tomorrow. I'm kinda anxious to get started cuz god knows I just don't have enough packed & unpacked boxes in my life right now!

Unloader

Orientation day at the WalMarts today. I am now an official WalMart Associate. I've got a name badge and everything! And no, even though I am known far and wide for my people skills, I am not going to be a greeter. I will instead be a truck unloader. I was actually kind of surprised they offered me that position being as I'm a "girl", but "hurray for diversity!" I'm looking forward to the challenge ~ I think it'll be a great workout. It's kind of sad having to go back to work so soon, though ~ it's been about two months since I've had a steady job and I don't miss it a bit! Heavy sigh. I know something better will come along soon.

Jobs

Today was a good day for jobs. Vic found out that she got the position of head of security at the local GM plant...YEA!! She beat out nine or so other people for the job, so she's very excited. She does the orientation thing Friday and starts some time after that. I heard back from WalMart today and apparently I passed my drug test because she asked me to come to their orientation tomorrow. I also took the test for dispatcher for the Oakland County Sheriff's Office this afternoon. I won't get the results of that for a couple of weeks, but I'm pretty sure I got at least the 70% required correct. I guess I retained a few items in my 6 years with the Escambia SO. I'm not real pleased that if selected for the dispatcher position, it could be almost two months before I'd actually start working there, but I'm sure things will work out for the best. And I'm glad my friend Shawn is feeling better! (I was worried about you, Shawn.)

Pee-Pee

It's always been a mystery to me why my dog, Shannon, can't pee without some prompting. I usually have to throw her ball a couple times before she'll go. I would always shake my head and wonder "why?" If you have to go, just go. Well...today at my drug test I could barely eek out the feeblest of a trickle. So I had to sit in the waiting area drinking cup after cup of tap water feeling dumb until I thought my bladder would burst. Every 15 minutes or so the nice nurse would peek around the corner and ask if I was ready yet. I would just sigh and shake my head "no." "That's ok honey," she'd say, "Sometimes this happens." If only she had a ball...

Fireworks & The WalMarts

Fireworks
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265.

Most of our weekend was spent unboxing stuff around the house and more driving around exploring the area. But Sunday night we managed to go see the fireworks in Grosse Pointe Woods, a real hoity-toity suburb of Detroit. I haven't been to a fireworks display in about six or seven years, so this one was really a lot of fun! Vic & I got there early and found a great spot to set our chairs on and then people-watched until the fireworks started. It was really a nice night and it sure beats unpacking boxes! I had an interview with the WalMarts (that's how almost everyone here says it) today. I think it went pretty well. All I have to do is pass the pee test & I'm in. I take the test for the Oakland County SO Wednesday afternoon and hopefully that will come through also. If so, maybe I can keep the WalMarts job on a part-time basis for a little while. It's been Florida hot here for the last week or so. The radio weather guy says it's just a short heat wave and won't last long. I don't remember it ever being this hot when I was a kid growing up in Cleveland. I hope Vic & I didn't bring the warm weather with us!

Warren

Warren
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265.

Vic & I have finally arrived at our new home in Warren, MI...and we are finally online!! I'm watching my new baseball team, the Tigers, while I blog this (no score yet). Today was the first really hot day we've had since getting here ~ I think it was somewhere in the 90's. We're still living amongst many boxes, but I manage to unpack something every day, so we're slowly making progress. I still don't have a job yet, but have a few prospects. I really enjoy not having to go to work, but I stress about not having a job daily! Hopefully I'll have some good news to report next week. I really like our new house and am looking forward to many years here in Michigan.

Arrived in Michigan

Just wanted to write a short post so everyone in the blogging world would know that I was still alive and well. Vic & I still don't have internet access at our house yet (I've been assured that it'll be hooked up sometime before the Winter Solstice), so I am blogging at the county library. We are both really enjoying our new house and are looking forward to getting the rest of our stuff delivered this Friday. The drive up was L O N G. It's quite a journey by itself, but then add the terrible weather, road construction and a UHaul trailer to the equation and the trip becomes alot longer! We were so glad to be in Warren and not driving anywhere! I'll give details in upcoming posts!

Last For a While

Vic & I are packing up the remainder of our stuff into our recently rented UHaul trailer. It looks like we'll be getting out of town just a few hours before Hurricane-to-be Arlene comes to town! How appropriate. This will be my last blog for a while as we won't have internet access for a week or so. Wish us luck on our long trip north!

All Done!

Originally uploaded by wahoo1265.

Who knew loading up a moving truck could be so much fun?! We finally finished packing our entire house about an hour ago. What a great feeling it is to know that you don't have anything else to pack! I'm really looking forward to not walking backward up a moving ramp again for quite a while. If for some reason we need to move again, we are definitely paying someone to do it for us. It looks like we're getting out just in time, too. Tropical Storm Arlene is headed for the Florida panhandle and is supposed to be here sometime late Saturday or early Sunday. By that time we should be at our half way point on our journey to Michigan. That's a great big "Ha!" to you Arlene!

Day Two of the Moving Fiesta

I just don't think we're going to load the moving truck today. As a matter of fact, I'm going to call professional movers to come move the remaining crap we have. Ha!! Geez, it sounded nice to say and even nicer to see in print, but we both know that it's just a fantasy. A pipe dream. A wish upon the biggest, brightest star. I am so incredibly sore and tired...and cranky. And to make things just a little better, there is a 60% chance of rain today! I just can't wait for Friday when we'll be all done and the moving truck guy will be back to pick up the truck. Of course, that means that Saturday and our 20hour drive to Michigan will be a little closer, too!

First Day of Moving

Well, the moving truck came this morning and after Vic & I had a wonderful lunch with our friends, Ramona & Celeste, we started loading her up. Geez, I have never sweated so much in my entire life. My whole shirt, front & back, is soaking wet! We got most of the heavy boxes and a few of the larger furniture items loaded, but we still have lots left! We've used about six feet of our allotted 16 feet. Hopefully we figured correctly and won't go over the 16 feet. Shawn is in town on vacation, visiting from Savannah and he stopped by to say hello in the middle of our moving day festivities. And let me tell you, he was an invaluable help to us! I just don't know if we could've removed those cushions from the couch ourselves! Lucky, lucky, lucky, that's us! Tomorrow will be another marathon moving day...

The Weekend & Monday

Friday~ Vic & I went to the P'Cola Pelicans baseball game with Jeannine & her son, Marcus. It was hat giveaway night and our last chance to see the Pelicans before we move. The shipment of hats was delayed (wouldn't you just know!), so we got vouchers to pick up our hats any time after June 12th. We are leaving on June 11th! The Pelicans lost in the 10th inning. Probably bad karma because of the hat situation.
Saturday~ We spent the day packing up the remaining stuff in the house, defrosting the fridge and I got the oil changed in the Jeep. That night we went to Jeannine's house for a little going-away festivities. Lots of people from both my & Vickie's work were there and we had lots of fun! It was really nice doing something non-moving related! I'll miss the people I worked with, so it was nice seeing them one last time.
Sunday~ After waking up with a slight headache from the night before, I cut the grass for the last time and cleaned up the lawn mower for the move. Vic & I also packed a few more little boxes. It seems like every day we pack a box we say that this should be the last one, but we keep finding little stuff around the house that we've overlooked! As of today, Monday, we really have packed all the boxes. Sort of. The only items left are cleaning supplies and things we know we're going to take with us in the ride up there.
Monday~ The moving van guy is supposed to drop off the truck tomorrow morning, so he says, and pick it back up Friday. The weather channel guy says it's going to rain all week, but not at our house cuz we'll be moving boxes and heavy furniture crap for two days. I really dread the "packing of the truck." More on that in future blogs...

Evacuation

Evacuation
Originally uploaded by wahoo1265.

Today the only really moving-related thing I accomplished was to send our change of address to the final catalog companies on my list. Vic & I went to a book sale early this morning because 30+ boxes of books just aren't enough to move, so we bought more. I love used book sales, so I couldn't pass this one up. A USB hub I ordered for my computer arrived today. I hooked it up in a flash and am now feeling very proud of myself! (It doesn't matter that the installation was so simple that there weren't even any instructions with it!) Tonight we are going to a baseball game. The P'Cola Pelicans, a semi-pro team, is playing and tonight is hat night! It'll be our last baseball game in the South. We evacuate the area in one week!

The Days of My Life

Not too much to really report on the moving front today. Vic & I packed a few more boxes and discussed the actual mechanics of our move, but overall it was kind've a "down day." We didn't do a whole lot of anything. I'm really enjoying not working. Really enjoying it. I have no desire to work ever again, but I know that looking for a job will be one of the very first things I do when we finally get to Warren. I'll actually start looking before any of our stuff even gets there. Yuck. In addition to packing, I've spent a lot of my almost-free time reading and cross-stitching. As a matter of fact, I just started a new book and a new cross-stitich project a couple of days ago ~ both of which I'm really enjoying! I figure I might as well take advantage of these "no working, book reading, cross-stitching" days while I can because soon I'll be entering the "looking for work, unpacking boxes, looking for more work" days.